The holidays are a time of year when loved ones come together. It’s also a time that can be especially challenging for those who are single. We want so much to share our lives with someone significant, and the pressure to avoid loneliness can become overwhelming. A friend recently expressed her fear of being alone for Christmas and frustration over a relationship that had gone silent. This feeling of needing to avoid being alone often comes from focusing on another person, rather than trusting in God’s plan for us.
We can become so concerned and consumed with someone else’s love, or lack thereof, that we neglect our relationship with God through Jesus Christ. He wants us to have a good life, but when we allow our faith and commitment to Him to be derailed, it’s a clear sign that we need correction.
Proverbs 3:11-12 (NLT) tells us, “My child, don’t reject the Lord’s discipline, and don’t be upset when he corrects you. For the Lord corrects those he loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights.” God is a loving parent. He corrects us out of His unconditional, unlimited love, and He guides us toward His best for our lives. This passage reminds us not to reject His discipline, for He corrects those He loves, just as any loving father would. If our foundation in Christ is not secure, we cannot truly bless others. We are called to shift our focus away from ourselves and invest in others, but to do so in a way that proves our foundation is solid in Christ.
The psalmist declares in Psalm 91:2 (NLT), “This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him.” This verse reminds us that God is not only our refuge and fortress, but He is also our Source of security and strength. In a world filled with uncertainty and challenges, we can always find our shelter in Him.
Psalm 84:11 (NLT) says, “For the Lord God is our sun and our shield. He gives us grace and glory. The Lord will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right.” In this verse, the sun and shield symbolize God’s provision and protection. Just as the sun provides light, warmth, and life, He illuminates our path, fills us with His presence, and gives us the strength to face each day. At the same time, He is our shield, guarding us from harm and offering us His safety.
His provision and protection are unwavering. When we place our trust in God, we are not relying on our own abilities or circumstances, but on the One who holds all things in His hands. By walking in His ways, we can trust that He will not withhold anything good from us. His grace and glory are abundant, and He desires to bless us with everything we need, both spiritually and in every other way.
He doesn’t cause relationship hiccups and heartaches, but they can reveal areas where our faith isn’t fully focused or where we’re not producing the Spirit’s fruit. If we haven’t prioritized our relationship with Heavenly Father properly, life will expose this. It will provide an opportunity for us to wake up, address our shortcoming through prayer and reflection, and seek God’s forgiveness. We should be grateful that He doesn’t allow us to continue on a harmful path but instead gives us a chance to accept His correction and trust His plan.
As God’s children, we are called to celebrate the holidays by focusing on gratitude towards the One who is our everything. To make the most out of life, we need to keep Him first in all things and to love Him with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength. Prioritizing our relationship with our Heavenly Father and remembering He can do the impossible allows us to live abundantly. By staying faithful to God’s ways, we will reap rewards in His perfect timing, and He will send us the right person into our lives—someone who will help us celebrate and honor God every day. ■
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
“Accept the Correction”, written by Kim Times, edited by Rev. Fran Mack and KLizzie for Sundie Morning Sistas ©2024. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord! SMS is dedicated to inspiring and encouraging Christian Women through the Word of God.